Glory of God and his followers on earth. The structure they built
has remained as a monument to their faith and dedication.
Rev. Pitblado hoped they would not experience the turmoil which the church was undergoing back in the homeland.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| BRIEF HISTORY OF KIRK MEMORIAL UNITED CHURCH | |||||||||||||||
| As the Fathers of Confederation were laying the foundation for the nation, decisions were being made in another part of our vast domain far removed from Canada's busy capital. In a small remote village called Upper Crossroads, St. Mary's a group of stalwart dedicated men and women were attempting to make a contribution in another way, not only to man but to God. | |||||||||||||||
| For some time, they were planning how they would bring their hopes and dreams into reality. Being of Scottish background, full of determination and faith in God, they proceeded to make plans, to lay the foundation and to erect a new place of worship to the Glory of God and his followers on earth. The structure they built has remained as a monument to their faith and dedication. |
|||||||||||||||
| The Presbyterian heritage began in this community about 1810 when the Rev. James MacGregor was the first minister to preach in the St. Mary's River Valley area. He came to Upper Crossroads during one of his missionary tours through Eastern Nova Scotia. He followed the riverbed upstream travelling on horseback from Sherbrooke. In 1856, the first wheeled vehicles were used to convey the ministers from the Garden of Eden to the St. Mary's valley. | |||||||||||||||
| During the ministry of Rev. Charles Pitblado in 1865-1872, the idea arose of uniting what were then two sections of the Presbyterian Church in Canada, the "Kirks" and the "Frees". Rev. Pitblado hoped they would not experience the turmoil which the church was undergoing back in the homeland. |
|||||||||||||||
| During the ministry of Reb. Robert Cummings in 1875, the present building now known as Kirk Memorial church was constructed by skilled hands. The large timbers were fashioned and hewn with never a thought of discouragement. The contractor was Benjamin McKeen, grandson of Capt. John McKeen, and his crew also built the Weeks Bridge over the St. Mary's River at the same time in order to haul supplies over for the construction of the church. The work pressed forward and on February 5, 1878, the people's prayers were answered and their hopes and dreams became a reality. The completed church was opened with one of the largest gatherings ever assembled there to hear and take part in the services conducted by Rev. Robert Cummings, assisted by Rev. Frank Forbes of Union Centre, Antigonish Co. | |||||||||||||||
| The following is a copy of the books of the Secretary-Treasurer, Upper Crossroads Presbyterian Church: Now known as the Glenelg Church, 1878. " The Building Committee of Glenelg church beg leave to submit the following account. After calling for tenders to build said church according to plans and specifications, Mr. Benjamin McKeen's offer was accepted for the sum of $3,775.00. After the work had progressed to a certain point of construction, your committee thought it best to make some alterations which would require larger timbers and extra iron rods, costing $425. The question of heating came before us. Should we heat this building with hot air produced by a furnace installed under the floor or with two stoves with 50 yards of pipe. After calculating the difference as near as we could, we decided on putting in a furnace with a total cost of $223. Other expenses included: sinking the drain a first and second time: extra plastering to two columns in the gallery, a cornish arch and gothic mouldings and other material, covering for the pews, etc. $376.36; price of land $25.00, recording deed $1.40, hauling furnace $12, 46 yards of grey cotton bought from J. Jordan at the price of $4.66; cotton from J.D. Cameron $4.50/bringing the total cost of building the church up to the present time to $4,968.76 |
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||